Education: Ready for Duty

At the U.S. service academies last week it was the Army's 161st
graduation, the Navy's 109th, the Coast Guard's 73rd, the Air Force's
first (TIME. June 1)and each in its way was unlike any in memory.
Items:

¶ All classes graduated on the same day. By so doing, all newly
commissioned officers (630 Navy, 446 Army, 331 Air Force, 79 Coast
Guard) started seniority at the same time. Reason: growing armed forces
unification and the need for an equalizer when officers of different
services meet in unified jobs.